Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing video review technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge specific rulings made by the chair umpire, echoing the system currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move follows just a year after the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine specific situations, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of challenges a player can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire watched a video and ruled Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
